13_04apr.qxp:athena_news 3/22/13 3:10 PM Page 1 BRIEFINGS April, 2013 Upcoming Meeting 2012-2013 OFFICERS WHEN: Thursday, April 4 PRESIDENT ..................... ELAINE TERENZI 11:55 a.m. PRESIDENT -E LECT ......... AMELIA CAMPBELL VP/M EMBERSHIP ........... .A SHLEY MOODY WHERE: Centre Club VP/P ROGRAMS ................ RENEE VAUGHN Westshore at Kennedy SECRETARY ...................... EDNA BROYLES TREASURER ....................... BONNIE CARR IMM . P AST PRESIDENT ..... RACHELLE BEDKE PROGRAM: Dr. Sylvia Richardson Young Women of Promise - Class of 2013 BOARD BETH BERNITT MENU: Greek Salad KIM DEBOSIER (veg plate available on request when reserving) CYNTHIA GANDEE LORRAINE LUTTON COST: Guests - $25 JEANNE TATE BELINDA WILSON RSVP: By April 1 – Register online or MEMBERSHIP email [email protected] . COMMITTEE BARBARA BACHMAN ROBIN DELAVERGNE DENISE JORDAN MICHELLE SCHOFNER OPEN MEETING – GUESTS WELCOME MIMI STAMPS LORNA TAYLOR Since 1981 Athena has identified young women of promise, ALTERNATE : A MANDA SANSONE and this year’s program continues this fine tradition and is ADMINISTRATOR/EDITOR sure to provide an uplifting and hopeful window into the future. Ten very special young women will be introduced, ELEANOR HUBBARD 813/251-9172 each outstanding in her own way. See page 3 for a list of [email protected] those to be recognized. ATHENA SOCIETY Each honoree will comment on one accomplishment that P.O. B OX 10813 has given her great satisfaction. You’ll be inspired and TAMPA , F LORIDA 33679 impressed by their stories. Please join us and bring friends who’ll enjoy meeting some truly incredible teens. 13_04apr.qxp:athena_news 3/22/13 3:10 PM Page 2 President’s Message Take a Risk I am watching my great nephew navigate his first roll-over. As I am writing this, he has done it twice in 15 minutes – a sure sign that he realized the impact he had on the whoosh of move - ment that left him, head facing at the ceiling, with a silly grin on his little face. I applaud his success with coos and smiles, reassuring him that the risk and effort was worth the result, but I think his feeling of mastery over his environment was truly reward enough. As we get older it seems we have more to protect, making even simple risks seem much greater. We protect our persona in the world; the one we have developed over the years; the way we see ourselves and the way we want others to see us. We become sensitive not just to the risk of trying something new, but also to the risk of losing something gained. But it is taking that risk, stepping into a new experience that helps us to learn and grow. That’s probably why I loved the Valentine’s Day card that came in the mail from Mason, Black & Caballero P.A. law partners (and some of our Athena sisters) last month. It was a fun , light reminder to step out and get the most out of life. Borrowing a William Purkey quote, it remind - ed us to “dance like there’s nobody watching / Love like you’ll never be hurt, / Sing like there’s nobody listening, / And live like it’s heaven on earth.” It reminds us that without taking risks, we risk losing the growth that new experiences bring. Like my great nephew we’ve got to take a risk to get the exhilarating whoosh of being in a new position with a new view of the world. Here’s to us, taking risks! www.athena-society.com 13_04apr.qxp:athena_news 3/22/13 3:10 PM Page 3 2013 YWP Winners Alicia Bishop George S. Middleton High School Briana Bursten C. Leon King High School Sarah Cimino H.B. Plant High School Kailey Fernandez T.R. Robinson High School Ana Gomez A.P. Leto High School Emily Harwell Berkeley Preparatory School Kellyanne Hurst Plant City High School Gabrielle Madden Academy of the Holy Names Isabelle Puppa George Steinbrenner High School Laury Rivera-Adorno Freedom High School News About Members Congratulations to Cynthia Gandee on her recent marriage to Peter Zinober in a quiet ceremony performed by Susan Bucklew . Her new address is 1813 W. Richardson Place, Tampa 33606. Luanne Panacek has been leading a busy life since retiring in October. She’s created her own LLC called Perpetual Growth and is offering coaching, individual and group planning, therapeutic services and consultation in the area of children’s programming. She’s been appointed to the New Life Village Board, is volunteering at Community Stepping Stones, re-activated her mental health license and been certified in Comprehensive Energy Psychology, an area in which she’s doing pro bono work to accrue practicum hours. Luanne can be contacted at [email protected] . Calendar April 11 – Bonus – Tech teaching April 16 – Bonus – CAMLS tour April 20 – Bonus – Lowry Park Zoo May 1 – Bonus – Tampa Bay History Center May 2 – Luncheon meeting - Human and Sex Trafficking May 4 – Bonus – Riverwalk June 6 – Dinner meeting - Tampa Yacht Club June 15 – New member party July 26-28 – Retreat – Palm Beach Ritz-Carlton 13_04apr.qxp:athena_news 3/22/13 3:10 PM Page 4 Upcoming Bonus Events April 16, 5-7 p.m. – Reception and Tour of CAMLS. The Bonus Committee is excited to announce an evening at the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation! CAMLS is a 90,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, three-story facility with every possible form of health professional education and training. CAMLS integrates simulation technology, aviation science, team training and evidence-based best practice into innovative programs with measureable outcomes. A CAMLS self-parking lot is located across Brorein Street with an entrance on Florida Avenue. Visit CAMLS at http://www.camls-us.org. $10 cost covers refreshments; guests welcome. April 20, 9:15 a.m. - Lowry Park Zoo. We have an exciting bonus opportunity to interact with the animals at Lowry Park Zoo, with admission waived! The zoo has created a private event just for us on Saturday April 20, in which Athena Society members, their children and friends will make toys for the animals, similar to the Russian dolls which open to reveal a series of smaller dolls. The children (and adults) will then be able to watch the orangutans open and interact with the toys they’ve made! The event lasts from 9:15 until 10:30 a.m. at which point guests are welcome to enjoy the zoo for the remainder of the day. Part of Lowry Park Zoo’s mission is not just to care for the animals but also to enrich them with, for example, mentally stimulating toys. Athena also created this project in response to members who wanted to show their children the fun benefits of volunteering in a memorable way that will leave a lasting impact. The zoo has been kind enough to waive admission (usually $17.50 for children and $22.50 for adults). In exchange, and to show our support of a great cause, we are suggesting those who attend contribute $10 per person as a donation to the zoo as well as to cover the costs of booking the Zoo School, buying craft materials and paying for staff time. This event is limited to the first 50 people who respond, including a maximum of 30 children. May 1 , 6-7 p.m. - Tampa Bay History Center. The Florida Wildlife Expedition, the 100 mile trek over 1,000 miles was made by three men and one woman. Come hear Mallory Lykes Dimmitt’s environmental exploration of this amazing journey. Free, with cash bar. Register via our website or by calling 228-0097. Enjoy dinner afterwards in Columbia Café at the History Center. Questions may be directed to [email protected] , April Birthdays Birthday wishes to the following members who celebrate in April: Marsha Lewis Brown Jan Roberts Robin DeLaVergne Linda Saul-Sena Anne Gormly Eldra Solomon Maria Howey Tina Tenret Pam Iorio Susan Zimmer 13_04apr.qxp:athena_news 3/22/13 3:10 PM Page 5 Community Action Committee Report Congress Reauthorizes Two Critical Acts to Protect Women By Joanne Lighter President Obama signed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which also incorporated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act on March 8th, following a year of Congressional negotiation. Originally passed in 1994, this Act has helped decrease female deaths and harm by funding direct services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The original funding provided safe shelter, training of law enforcement and maintenance of hotlines to connect victims with services. The reauthorized bill will continue to help advocates decrease violence in the early stages and provides for increased services to lower the rate of domestic homicide. New provisions expand services for teens and young adults for prevention and intervention services through Teen Dating Violence initiatives. The bill also removes critical barriers for members of the lesbian, gay, transgender and bi-sexual community – all of whom face challenges in the legal and judiciary arenas. The bill strengthens federal penalties for repeat sex offenders and creates the federal “Rape Shield Law.” The bill calls for increased rates of prosecution, conviction and sentencing of offenders through community networks of law enforcement and prosecution units and the development of domestic violence dockets. It protects women from bearing the expense of receiving rape exams or protection orders and states that a victim’s protection order will be recognized and enforced in all state, tribal and territorial jurisdictions of the United States. In the same bill, Congress also reauthorized the Trafficking Victims Protection Act that maintains protection for immigrants who experience domestic or sexual violence, as well as strengthening safety for victims of Trafficking.